Sully the service dog starts new job in Maryland at Walter Reed Medical Center

Sully the service dog starts new job in Maryland at Walter Reed Medical Center

The late President George H.W. Bush's service dog starts work Wednesday

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Updated: 5:36 PM EST Feb 27, 2019

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WEBVTT >> SULLY H.W. BUSH, DO YOU AFFIRM OR PANT AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COMFORT, AND CHEER OUR WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES’ ACTIVE DUTY, AND RETIRED, THAT YOU WILL EMBRACE OUR STAFF AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND SOLACE? JENNIFER AN OATH OF ENLISTMENT : FOR SULLY AS HE BEGINS HIS NEW DUTIES AT WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER. THE FORMER SERVICE DOG FOR FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH IS JOINING A TEAM OF SIX DOGS AT THE FACILITY, AND JUST LIKE THEM, HIS PRIMARY JOB TO PROVIDE COMFORT. >> VISITING PATIENTS AND STAFF ALL THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL, THEY SEE IN PATIENTS IN WARDS THAT ARE HERE FOR A LONG -- A LONG TIME. >> SOME TREATMENTS HERE CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE JUST TO SEE A DOG HERE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF DAY ARE HAVING. JENNIFER IT WAS THIS PICTURE : THAT TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS LAUNCHING SULLY INTO STARDOM, CAPTURING A BOND BETWEEN A DOG AND HIS PERSON. IT WAS TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT’S PERSONAL AIDE, EVAN SISLEY WHO SAYS SERVICE HERE IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT MISSION FOR SULLY. >> IT’S AN AMAZING PLACE FOR HIM TO BE AND TO CONTINUE THAT LIFE OF SERVICE REALLY MEANS THE WORLD TO NOT JUST THE STAFF AND MYSELF BUT TO THE FAMILY AS WELL . JENNIFER AND CHANCE TO IMPACT : EVEN MORE LIVES. SULLY COMES FROM THE AMERICA’S VET DOGS ORGANIZATION,WHICH HAS RECEIVED NON STOP APPLICATIONS SINCE THE PHOTO WENT VIRAL. >> THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS SHINED A LIGHT ON THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VETERANS NOT JUST PRESIDENTS BUT ALL VETERANS. JENNIFER FOR SULLY, IT ALSO : MEANS A NEW VEST MADE FROM THE UNIFORM SISLEY WORE IN THE NAVY A NEW MILITARY RANKING AND SOME LAST MOMENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT BEFORE BECOMING JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. >> PRESIDENT BUSH HAD A QUOTE THAT ANY DEFINITION OF A SUCCESSFUL LIFE MUST INCLUDE SERVICE TO OTHERS AND THIS IS TRULY IN KEEPING WITH THAT MANTRA. 28:28 JENNIFER: CELLY IS ONLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD SO THE PLAN IS TO HAVE HIM HERE AT WALTER REED FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME HERE IN BETHESDA, JENNIFER FRANCIOTTI, WBAL-TV OF THE -- 11. ASHLEY: ALSO ATTENDING TODAY’S CEREMONY, OUR PUPPY WITH A PURPOSE, CAMDEN JEN SHARED THIS PHOTO OF THE TWO PUPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS MORNING AND WE ARE TOLD THEY BECAME FAST FRIENDS. IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THAT CAMDEN ARRIVED. SHE PICKED UP HER 11,000TH FOLLOWER ON INSTAGRAM TODAY. YOU CAN FOLLOW HER ADVENTURES ON HE

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Sully the service dog starts new job in Maryland at Walter Reed Medical Center

The late President George H.W. Bush's service dog starts work Wednesday

Sully, the former service dog for the late President H.W. Bush, started his next assignment Wednesday in Maryland.Sully joined a team of six dogs at the Facility Dog Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and, just like them, his primary job is to provide comfort.The program provides interactive care for patients and staff using service dogs and other animals using innovative "Animal Assisted Interventions," according to Walter Reed Bethesda. The mission of the program is to help reduce stress and increase overall feelings of well-being among patients and staff, the hospital said. Samantha Murdock, lead petty officer of the program, said Sully will be "visiting patients and staff all throughout the hospital, visiting patients and wards that are here for long periods of time.""Some treatments here can be very challenging for people, and to see a dog here, from personal experience, will make you feel better regardless of what kind of day you're having," Hospital Corpsman Robert Park said.Sully gained national attention and affection for his companionship and service to Bush during the last stages of his life. After the former president passed in 2018, a picture of Sully resting faithfully in front of his casket went viral online.The photo was taken by the president's personal aide, Evan Sisley, who said service at Walter Reed Bethesda is exactly the right mission for Sully."It's an amazing place for him to be, and to continue that life of service really means the world to not just the staff and myself, but to the family as well," Sisley said. For Sully, it also means a new vest made from the uniform Sisley wore in the Navy, a new military ranking and some last moments in the spotlight before becoming just one of the gang."President Bush has a quote that any definition of a successful life must include service to others, and this is truly in keeping with that mantra," Sisley said.Sully is a service dog from America's VetDogs, the nonprofit organization that raises and trains service dogs for disabled military veterans and first responders.America's VetDogs has received nonstop applications since the photo went viral."This opportunity has shined a light on the services that are available to veterans, not just presidents, but all veterans," said John Miller, CEO of America's VetDogs.America's VetDogs is the organization raising and training WBAL-TV's Puppy with a Purpose, Camden. Camden spent time with Sully Tuesday night in Maryland before Sully began his new assignment. Sully the service dog is named after retired airline captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Sullenberger was the pilot in 2009 that safely landed a US Airways flight in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines stopped working, saving all 155 people aboard. Sully the dog met his namesake on The TODAY Show earlier in February. You can follow Sully H.W. Bush on Instagram as he begins his new job at Walter Reed Bethesda.​

BETHESDA, Md. —

Sully, the former service dog for the late President H.W. Bush, started his next assignment Wednesday in Maryland.

Sully joined a team of six dogs at the Facility Dog Program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and, just like them, his primary job is to provide comfort.

The program provides interactive care for patients and staff using service dogs and other animals using innovative "Animal Assisted Interventions," according to Walter Reed Bethesda. The mission of the program is to help reduce stress and increase overall feelings of well-being among patients and staff, the hospital said.

America's VetDogs

America's VetDogs

Samantha Murdock, lead petty officer of the program, said Sully will be "visiting patients and staff all throughout the hospital, visiting patients and wards that are here for long periods of time."

"Some treatments here can be very challenging for people, and to see a dog here, from personal experience, will make you feel better regardless of what kind of day you're having," Hospital Corpsman Robert Park said.

Sully gained national attention and affection for his companionship and service to Bush during the last stages of his life. After the former president passed in 2018, a picture of Sully resting faithfully in front of his casket went viral online.

The photo was taken by the president's personal aide, Evan Sisley, who said service at Walter Reed Bethesda is exactly the right mission for Sully.

"It's an amazing place for him to be, and to continue that life of service really means the world to not just the staff and myself, but to the family as well," Sisley said.

For Sully, it also means a new vest made from the uniform Sisley wore in the Navy, a new military ranking and some last moments in the spotlight before becoming just one of the gang.

"President Bush has a quote that any definition of a successful life must include service to others, and this is truly in keeping with that mantra," Sisley said.

Sully is a service dog from America's VetDogs, the nonprofit organization that raises and trains service dogs for disabled military veterans and first responders.

America's VetDogs has received nonstop applications since the photo went viral.

"This opportunity has shined a light on the services that are available to veterans, not just presidents, but all veterans," said John Miller, CEO of America's VetDogs.

America's VetDogs is the organization raising and training WBAL-TV's Puppy with a Purpose, Camden. Camden spent time with Sully Tuesday night in Maryland before Sully began his new assignment.

Sully the service dog is named after retired airline captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. Sullenberger was the pilot in 2009 that safely landed a US Airways flight in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines stopped working, saving all 155 people aboard. Sully the dog met his namesake on The TODAY Show earlier in February.